There are a lot of TV shows out there and in this golden age of TV streaming, the choices have never been greater. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic? Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest, and unforgettable shows through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, our attention this time turns to anime animated by Studio Mappa. From Chainsaw Man to Terror In Resonance, there’s a good choice to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man was an important work for Studio Mappa to animate. Many fans longed for this manga to receive an adaptation. Although some aren’t huge fans of the adaptation, many viewers appreciated the craftsmanship that went into bringing this world to life. This anime contains fun characters and a thrilling atmosphere.
In it, we follow Denji and his chainsaw devil sidekick, Pochita. One day, he and Pochita meet a yakuza member in a warehouse to slay a devil. However, they wind up getting double-crossed by said member, leading to their demise. Pochita sacrifices himself and grants Denji the power to turn into Chainsaw Man. As Chainsaw Man, Denji slays the devil and every single yakuza member.
The next day, a woman named Makima and a few colleagues visit the warehouse. They give Denji a chance to work for Public Safety by slaying devils in exchange for living a better life. This anime doesn’t contain the best animation, but there are a few scenes that will get your blood boiling and pumping. If you’re looking for an anime with extreme bloodshed, delightful dialogue, and entertaining characters, give it a shot.
Terror In Resonance
Terror In Resonance isn’t as well-known as some of Mappa’s other projects. It’s a show that aired in 2014 and contains a mesmerizing atmosphere with gorgeous visuals. With some delightful thriller and mystery elements, this is an underlooked gem you should add to your viewing catalog.
This story follows Nine and Twelve. They’re two young terrorists accused of bombing a nuclear facility in Japan and challenging the police force. It’s up to them and their detective Kenjiroui to bring these boys to justice. It’s a nonstop thrill ride you’ll never want to conclude. Everything culminates in a dramatic and intense finish, leaving you satisfied with the journey.
The show’s protagonists are shrouded in mystery. The anime does delve into our character’s backgrounds, though. However, you’ll receive pieces of their history over time. With a distinct art style and excellent handling of warfare and tragedy, this is one atmospheric thriller series you don’t want to miss.
Attack On Titan: The Final Season
This is a series that’s hard not to know about. It helped make anime more mainstream for the modern generation. With its epic storytelling, intricate characters, and stimulating visuals, you’re sure to walk away from this one impressed. The first three seasons were animated by Wit Studio. However, its final season’s being handled by Studio Mappa.
Although the studio’s use of CGI elements may look jarring at first, the show maintains excellent quality. The storytelling feels more complex and grander compared to previous seasons. The characters are much older and some display different characteristics that’ll interest fans of the first three seasons.
The anime’s run into quite a dilemma regarding its release schedule. It’s been split into multiple parts and can get a bit tiresome once you’re caught up. However, if you stick with this one for its storytelling, characters, and epic fights, your initial worries may be put to rest. Give it a shot if you loved the first three seasons of the show.
Dororo (2019)
Dororo is one of Osamu Tezuka’s richest tales and one that definitely needed a visual revamp. The first adaptation was released in 1969 and was done in black and white. Not only does the 2019 remake have better visuals, but it contains an excellent soundtrack that amplifies the tense atmosphere felt in this world.
This is a story of revenge and growth and follows a merciless warrior named Hyakkimaru. He travels the world with his child companion Dororo and hopes to slay demons to regain pieces of himself. Viewers will love following Dororo and Hyakkimaru because they establish a rich bond with each other.
Despite serving as a mentor figure, Hyakkimaru isn’t afraid to rip and tear through demons in front of Dororo. Many viewers will adore the level of carnage implemented into this show. Nonetheless, it’s Hyakkimaru’s internal growth that will keep viewers interested the most. As the series progresses, you’ll notice Hyakkimaru adopt more human-like qualities and mannerisms. Despite its “monster of the week” formula, fans will admire this show.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Many modern shonen series have been released in the past decade. Some introduce new concepts not seen in Shonen Jump, while others stick to the formula. Jujutsu Kaisen features common shonen tropes but has enough contrasts to stand out from past famous creations. This anime contains complex battle systems, amusing characters, and entertaining fights.
Its protagonist Yuuji adopts similar characteristics seen from past shonen characters like Goku and Naruto. He walks around his world, harboring a destructive entity that’s shamed by many people. Despite this, Yuuji isn’t a strong force and must develop skills of his own to prove himself valuable as a warrior and host.
This anime’s fights are well-choreographed and might be one of Studio Mappa’s best works yet. Every fight looks fluid from the way our characters punch, kick, or fling foes. The fights contain some layers of complexity due to the anime’s curse system. However, the conversations aren’t overwhelming and allow viewers to realize how fighters differ in power, experience, and other things.
Kids on the Slope
This is a remarkable music anime with an impactful coming-of-age tale. It tackles relatable issues surrounding friendship, love, and following your passion. With its charming character dynamics and great atmosphere, you’re guaranteed to walk away from this one satisfied. This anime highlights the bond between a boy named Kaoru and a famed musician named Sentarou.
The two form a band and we examine their quest to make people’s days a tad brighter with their music. This anime starts slowly to help viewers understand its characters and their goals. This series marvelously builds upon Sentarou and Kaoru’s relationship the best and nothing about their development feels forced.
Music is at the heart of this story. The soundtrack is pleasant to listen to and adds to the world’s charm. If you’re looking for a remarkable music anime that might inspire you to pick up an instrument, check out Kids on the Slope.
Dorohedoro
Dorohedoro is a great action-packed work. It’s impressively written, tonally on-point, and shockingly hilarious. The world is fully realized and you’ll adore following the series’s diverse cast. While the series’s protagonist Caiman takes center stage, its other cast members receive enough characterization and shining developments that are worth your time.
This anime takes place in a fictional universe split between two distinct class-based areas. The Hole is a decrepit, run-down cesspool of poorly mutated creatures. They’ve been experimented on by magic users who live in an idealistic realm occupied by Sorcerer. With the Sorcerers traveling to the Hole on a regular basis via magic doorways, one man stands in the way of their progress – Caiman.
He suffers from amnesia and wants to know about his past. He’s a reptilian male, has an insatiable appetite for the truth, and is immune to magic. Funny, violent, and well-written, Dorohedoro is a great anime and its 12 episodes are packed with some excellent characterization and seamless CG animation.
You can read our thoughts on Dorohedoro in our full-season review here!
Hajime No Ippo: Rising
Hajime No Ippo: Rising is the third season of Hajime No Ippo. The original series was animated by Studio Madhouse and received great praise for its storytelling, fights, and motivational dialogue. Rising was animated by Studio Mappa and Madhouse and they had a lot of shoes to fill based on the first few season’s success. Thankfully, they managed to give fans a season worth waiting for.
In Rising, we continue following Ippo’s journey to becoming the world’s greatest boxer. Like other shonen works, the competition is at an all-time high for Ippo and his boxer friends. They’ll develop new strategies and utilize current ones to overcome their new foes. The foes have new tricks up their sleeve that’ll push Ippo and his friends to their limit.
The animation is as immaculate as the show’s visuals. There’s enough action here to get fans pumped up for future bouts and plot developments. If you adored the Hajime No Ippo and its second season, you’re guaranteed to fall in love with this one too.
Zombieland Saga
It’s rare to find anime that want to challenge the norm. We’ve had the 90s’ classic Slayers, which was a parody of an RPG and adventure series. At the same time, we’ve had works like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Puella Magi Madoka Magica which served as deconstruction for the mecha genre and magical girl sub-genre.
Eventually, we’d receive another series that wanted to push the boundaries of its genre. Enter Zombieland Saga, an anime with a comedic take on idol-themed anime and its culture. Our story follows Sakura and six other females from different eras who get revived by a strange man. The gentleman wants to revitalize the Saga Prefecture, his homeland, by creating an idol group.
The girls accept his terms and we follow them on their wacky adventures as zombie idols. It’s a strange yet refreshing concept and will surely make you chuckle at our girls’ mistakes. Every character plays a role in the story and it looks visually stunning. If you admire idol groups, pop stars, or singers in general, you’ll love Zombieland Saga.
Banana Fish
Family values are a constant theme brought up in many anime today. Whether the anime depicts families spending time together or settling disputes over mundane matters, it’s a concept many fans can get behind. Banana Fish features a protagonist who could use some affection in his life. In it, we follow Ash. He’s had a terrible and traumatic childhood.
He’s experienced everything from grooming to abuse at the hands of his numerous caregivers. Despite living a harsh life, he maintains a confident persona in front of his gang members. While investigating the Banana Fish incident, Ash learns that his godfather Dino sent a group of mercenaries after him while he’s at a bar.
Two men named Skip and Eiji try to warn Ash, but get kidnapped by Dino’s men. Therefore, Ash must discover a way to rescue them and continue his investigation into Banana Fish. If you’re searching for an anime that spends a great deal of time making you care for its characters through well-crafted backstories and events, give this a watch.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best anime from Studio Mappa over the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!